Thursday, August 30, 2012

Annotation:
In
the not-too-distant future, the United States is governed by the Moral
Statutes: laws created following a catastrophic world war. One of the newest laws
is Article 5 which states that only children conceived by a married man and
woman are valid citizens. Seventeen-year-old Ember Miller has always tried to
abide by the Moral Statutes, but after Article 5 is enacted, she and her single
mother can no longer hide.

Personal
thoughts: I am really a big fan of dystopian novels, but it seems like
after you’ve read 20+ titles in the genre, the ones that don’t do something
completely different kind of blend together. I enjoyed reading Article 5, but I’m worried that it might
not be unusual enough to really stick out in the crowd. I kind of already knew
what was going to happen when the story began, just because it is what usually
happens in dystopian novels. I do think it is a good book, however, and would
easily recommend it to someone who wanted a Hunger
Games read-alike. I will also definitely be picking up the sequel when it’s
released, and I hope that the author can take the story in a unique direction
that will really make the series a standout.

Plot
summary: After a brutal war destroyed most of the United States’ major
cities, the country is now under control by the Federal Bureau of Reformation
(FBR). The Moral Statutes govern what citizens can and cannot do, and
compliance is mandatory. The newest of the Moral Statutes is Article 5, which
states that only children conceived by a married man and woman are valid
citizens. Seventeen-year-old Ember Miller has tried to live her life in
compliance with the Statutes. She attends high school, behaves appropriately,
and tries to discourage her free-spirit mother from acting immorally. After the
FBR initiates a crackdown on Article 5 violators, however, Ember and her
mother, who has never been married, find themselves under arrest. Ember is sent
to a reform school for girls, and her mother is sent to prison to await trial.
The reform school is operated by a cruel woman named Ms. Brock and guarded by dozens
of FBR soldiers. Ember wants nothing more than to escape the school and rescue
her mother, but she cannot forget the face of one of the men who arrested her:
Chase Jennings, the only boy she has ever loved.

Review: From debut
author Kristen Simmons comes Article 5,
the first novel in a new dystopian series for teens. Dystopian novels seem to
be the bread and butter of the young adult genre in recent years, and, although
it is well-written and has originality, Article
5 does have a lot in common with other recently published dystopian novels.
The government rules with an absolute iron fist, people who disobey aren’t
heard from again, the main character finds herself thrust into a situation that
causes her to be at odds with the government, there is a romance that is
threatened by the aforementioned situation. These are all plot points that Article 5 shares with other novels in
the genre (in fact, Katniss Everdeen, the Godmother of dystopia herself, has
these in common with Kristen Simmons’ Ember Miller.) The fact that Article 5 is a lot like other recently
published dystopian novels, however, doesn’t make it any less entertaining. The
author does a great job of creating tension in the story: the reader is never
sure who to trust, what the truth about various situations is, and what will
happen next for Ember Miller and Chase Jennings. There are also several plot
twists that keep the book flowing very smoothly from start to finish, leaving
the reader at a satisfying point to anticipate the sequel. Ember is a very
likable if slightly underdeveloped character (the reader doesn’t really get a
sense for who she is prior to the events of the story because the action starts
within the first pages of the novel.) Hopefully, the author will be able to
expand on Ember, Chase and their relationship in the sequel, Breaking Point, which is set to be
released on February 5, 2013.

Genre: Science-Fiction

Reading
level: Grade 8+

Similar
titles: Hunger
Games series by Suzanne Collins, Awaken
by Katie Kacvinsky, Cinder by
Marissa Meyer, Divergent series by
Veronica Roth, Eve by Anna Carey, The Pledge by Kimberly Derting, The Selection by Kiera Cass, Starters by Lissa Price, Partials by Dan Wells, Legend by Marie Lu, Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi, What Happened to Serenity? by PJ Sarah Collins.

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Annotation:
This
macabre collection of short stories, poems and illustrations ranges from the
musings of corpses to the pitfalls of having a pet tarantula.

Personal
thoughts: I don’t often read collections of short stories and poems, but
when I heard about this one (and saw the cover) I decided to give it a try. I
have to admit that, in general, I am really not a fan of poetry/lyrical writing
in book form, but I actually enjoyed this collection. It is definitely creepy
and more than a little gross, but I thought many of the chapters were really
clever. I hope that Nora Thompson decides to publish a second volume, or
perhaps write an entire novel in the same vein as this book, because I think
she has a lot of originality to bring to the genre.

Plot
summary: This macabre collection of short stories, poems and illustrations
ranges from the musings of corpses to the pitfalls of having a pet tarantula.
Chapters run the gamut of literary styles including straight narrative style,
disjointed poetry, and comic strip.

Review: Nora Thompson,
the illustrator behind the-rots.com, creates her first book of flash fiction
with Twisted Tales to Rot Your Brain Vol.
1. The collection is a very quick read, easy to finish in one sitting, with
chapters ranging in length from one to several pages. While the entire book is,
in a word, strange, the author does a good job of creating something creepy
and, of course, twisted that is appropriate for the young adult audience.
Readers who are familiar with the Scary
Stories series or the poetry of Shel Silverstein or Jack Prelutsky will find
this collection comes across as a combination of the two. Some of the most
enjoyable chapters in the book are “Hairy Eyeballs,” where the narrator must
contend with a bristly hair inexplicably growing from the back of his throat, “Headache,”
where it feels like something is trying to claw its way out of the narrator’s skull
(and it just might be), and “Chula,” a story that will make anyone think twice
about keeping a pet tarantula. Overall, any teen reader who is okay with the
grossout/twisted nature of the book will find something that they enjoy in Nora
Thompson’s collection. Funny, clever, and unique, the world of young adult
literature has something to look forward to in Nora Thompson’s creations.

Genre: Short Stories/Poetry/Horror

Reading
level: Grade 7+

Similar
titles: Scary
Stories series by Alvin Schwartz, Weenies
series by David Lubar.

Themes: Black comedy, macabre, death, irony, humor.

Awards/Reviews:
Positive reviews from Publishers Weekly and Kirkus.

Series
Information: N/A

Discussion
questions:

-
What was your favorite chapter in this
collection? Why?

-
How did the author’s use of illustrations add
to the book? Do you like her artistic style?

-
Did you find any of the chapters in the
collection funny? Creepy? Gross?

-Describe the different writing styles Nora
Thompson used in the book. Which do you like the best? The least? Why?

Saturday, August 18, 2012

Annotation:
Claire
is heartbroken when her lifelong crush, her best friend’s older brother Daniel,
is tragically killed in a seemingly random shooting. Months later after her own
near death experience, Claire is shocked to discover that she can communicate
with Daniel’s spirit which is stuck in “the fringe,” and that his murder might
not have been random after all.

Personal
thoughts: Although this book did a pretty good job of creeping me out in
parts, I had some trouble in finding something to latch onto to make it a novel
I really loved. I thought Claire and Daniel were interesting characters, but I
didn’t feel like I really got to know them in the story. The first few chapters
(when Daniel was still alive) were my favorite in the book, and I wish that the
author had spent a little more time developing Claire and Daniel and their
relationship before jumping into ghosts-ville. I also didn’t really understand
the “bad guy” or why he was so mean-spirited, my final guess being that the
author simply meant for him to be just crazy. Overall, I did somewhat enjoy the
novel, but it was one of those reads where I felt like I really could have
loved it had it lived up to its potential fully. Either way, I am looking
forward to seeing what Courtney King Walker comes up with next because she
seems to definitely have some interesting ideas up her sleeve.

Plot
summary: Since she was a little girl, sixteen-year-old Claire and her best
friend Addie have been joined at the hip with Claire’s older brother, Matthew,
who also happens to be best friends with Addie’s older brother, Daniel. The
four have years of memories growing up together, the boys playing pranks on their
annoying little sisters and the girls trying to keep up with their older
brothers’ games. Now that they’re older, however, Claire and Daniel are just beginning
to discover that they actually have feelings for each other. Daniel isn’t just
Addie’s older brother, but is handsome and kind, and Daniel likes Claire’s
adventurous and whimsical nature. Just as their relationship begins to blossom,
however, Daniel is tragically killed in what appears to be a random shooting at
a party. Addie, Matthew and Claire are completely heartbroken by the loss. In
the months following his death, the three grieve in their own ways: Matthew
going off to college, Addie focusing on her social life, and Claire wondering
why her brother and her best friend are trying to move on from something that
she feels has altered her life forever. Everything changes, however, after a
freak accident causes Claire to nearly drown in a lake near her house. As she
is losing consciousness beneath the surface of the water, she sees Daniel’s
face, and he pulls her to shore. At first she thinks she imagined it, but
Claire soon realizes that her near death experience has given her the ability
to communicate with Daniel’s spirit. But how can Claire keep her newfound
connection with Daniel a secret? And was his murder truly random, or was
someone, or something, else behind Daniel’s death?

Review: In her
first book, author Courtney King Walker creates a bittersweet and often creepy
ghost story that is interesting but doesn’t exactly leave the reader with warm
fuzzy feelings when it’s all said and done. The story begins in a very
non-paranormal fashion: Claire is a free-spirited girl who finds herself
falling for her best friend’s older brother, Daniel. Since the novel is told by
dual narrators, both Daniel and Claire get to express the events of the story
from their perspective, and Daniel’s description of his realization that Claire
was more than just his best friend’s kid sister is very sweet. The story
abruptly changes, however, after Daniel is murdered (shot in the head, to be
exact.) This plot element was jarring, and the sweetness that was established
in the first few chapters almost completely disappears. Claire discovering her
new found connection with Daniel’s spirit is nice, but it does come after she
nearly drowns. There is also a vengeful ghost who has it in for Daniel, and
decides to haunt Claire after he discovers that she and Daniel have found a way
to communicate. Everything in the plot seems to have a negative aspect to it,
something that made it hard to get the romantic feelings flowing while Claire
and Daniel fall more in love with each other. Some side characters are
introduced throughout the story as well and are never fully vetted, leaving the
reader slightly confused when they end up playing a large role in the plot.
Overall, fans of ghost stories are likely to enjoy On the Fringe, but as a romance and a completely developed novel,
the book leaves a bit to be desired.

Genre: Fiction/Ghost Story

Reading
level: Grade 7+

Similar
titles: Anna Dressed
in Blood by Kendare Blake, Hereafter series
by Tara Hudson, Envy: An Empty Coffin
Novel by Gregg Olsen, Juliet Immortal
by Stacey Jay, Lightbringer by
K.D. McEntire, The Poisoned House by
Michael Ford.

Themes: Ghosts, murder, revenge, romance, friendship,
grief, loss.

Awards/Reviews:
Positive reviews on Amazon.com.

Series
Information: N/A

Discussion
questions:

-What was the significance of the silver ring
in the story? What did it symbolize about Claire and Daniel’s relationship?

-
After Daniel’s death, explain the difference
between the way Matthew, Addie and Claire grieved. Which way do you think was
the most “normal”? Do you think that one method of grieving is better than
another?

-
When Claire almost drown in the lake on the
night of her birthday, do you think a part of her wanted to die? Why or why
not?

-
How do you explain the “connection” between
Daniel and Claire after she almost drowned?

Monday, August 13, 2012

Annotation: After their father, the king, goes to war, the royal children,
Solveig, her older sister, Asa, and her younger brother, Harald, are sent to
spend the winter in safety in an isolated fortress tucked into a frozen fjord.
Joined by an army of warriors and a few of their most trusted servants, Solveig
and the rest of the fortress inhabitants begin to worry that their might be a
traitor in their midst after several mysterious acts of sabotage occur in the
frozen walls.

Personal
thoughts: When I first started this book
I honestly wasn’t sure I was going to like it. As it continued, however, I grew
to absolutely love the story. Solveig is easily one of my all-time favorite
female protagonists in any novel I’ve read in both the adult and young adult
genres. The fact that she is so endearing really made me care about what
happened in the story, and I found myself cheering her on as she grew more
confident in herself and in her abilities as a storyteller. I would easily be
able to recommend this book to tween and teen readers who want something that
completely immerses them in a different world. I would also highly recommend it
to adult readers as well! I’m looking forward to seeing what Matthew J. Kirby
comes up with next!

Plot summary: The second daughter and middle child of her father, the king,
Solveig has never been considered by herself, or anyone else, to be special.
Her older sister, Asa, is beautiful and graceful and her younger brother, the
crown prince, Harald, is spunky and determined to be a powerful warrior. Solveig
is plain and shy, and doesn’t really know where she fits in with the rest of
her family. After her father declares war on a neighboring kingdom, Solveig,
along with Asa and Harald, are sent away to spend the winter in an isolated
fortress, safe from the perils of war. Along with the royal children come Per,
one of the king’s most trusted warriors, and several of his men, servants Bera
and her son Raudi, a good friend of Solveig’s, and Ole, a slave who was
captured in battle years earlier but is now loyal to the king. The small group
waits for the winter to come and the fjord to freeze over, blocking off any
entrance by land or sea to their hidden fortress. Before the last ice forms, however,
a ship full of berserkers, the king’s most ferocious warriors, lead by the
gruff Captain Hake arrives to ensure the royal children are protected. The berserkers
bring with them a skald named Alric, a man serves as the king’s chief
storyteller. Solveig immediately bonds with Alric, who teaches her about the
importance of stories and how they can shape the mind. As the winter trudges
on, however, life in the frozen hall becomes increasingly claustrophobic. Used to
the battlefield, the berserkers become restless, Solveig suspects that
something is going on between Asa and Per, and several acts of sabotage threaten
the lives of everyone in the fjord. Can Solveig uncover who the traitor is in
their midst before it’s too late?

Review: Full of interesting characters, a rich and detailed setting, and
a tense but creative plot, Icefall is
a fascinating psychological fantasy novel that readers of all ages who want
something that makes them think will enjoy. One of the most impressive parts of
the book is how impactful Kirby’s ability to create a feeling of claustrophobia
is. As the winter gets darker and colder, the reader feels just as much
apprehension as Solveig does about the possibility of a traitor living in the
hall. All of the novel’s characters are exceptionally well developed,
particularly the very likable Solveig, and the reader finds themselves truly wondering
who can be trusted and if everyone will make it through the winter alive.
Although these feelings of tension abound in the novel, Kirby does an excellent
job of limiting the amount of violence in the plot. The story takes place in
ancient Norse times, so there is, of course, reference to battles, swordplay,
etc. But parents should not be concerned about the appropriateness of the novel
for tweens: everything is PG and there is very little gore. Although the novel
is appropriate for younger readers, adults should not shy away from picking the
book up as well. There are many layers to the plot that adults can appreciate,
and the novel is, in plain terms, simply a good book. Highly recommended to
fans of fantasy, mystery and stories set in ancient times.

Genre: Historical Fiction/Fantasy

Reading level: Grade 6+

Similar
titles: Dark of the Moon by
Tracy Barrett, Cleopatra’s Moon by
Vicky Alvear Shecter, D’Aulaires’ Book of
Norse Myths by Ingri D’Aulaire, Edgar Parin D’Aulaire, and Michael Chabon.

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Annotation:
After
Dez has a chance run in with the handsome and mysterious Kale, she learns that
her father is part of an elite organization called Denazen that collects Sixes:
people with mutations that give them extraordinary super powers.

Personal
thoughts: One thing I kept thinking throughout this novel was, “This is
what X-Men would have been liked if
Magneto had been in charge of the school instead of Professor Xavier.” After
finishing it, that thought pretty much sums up the story! I found a lot of
elements in the book to be similar to other young adult novels, and the
parallels with X-Men are so apparent
that the author even mentions them in the book. The one thing that really saved
the novel for me was the author’s obviously thoughtful construction of Dez. She
starts off the story seriously annoying and obnoxious, but the reader gets to
see her personality mature and progress as she becomes more entrenched in her
plight to find out the truth about Denazen. So often, protagonists in young
adult novels are somewhat wooden, so it was nice to read about a “real” girl
with a lot of spunk. Although this book wasn’t my favorite, I would still
recommend it to teen girls who want something with action and romance. There is
enough to enjoy about the story to make it a worthwhile read.

Plot
summary: Seventeen-year-old Deznee “Dez” Cross has spent most of her life
trying to break through her lawyer father’s iron guard by making him angry. Her
mother died giving birth to her, and Dez has always assumed that her dad’s icy
relationship with her is because he blames her for losing his wife. Dez isn’t
sure how else to get his attention, so she spends her days partying, hooking up
with guys, and pulling daredevil stunts like skateboarding off of roofs. One
night after a particularly wild party, Dez happens to meet a handsome and
mysterious guy named Kale. Kale seems disoriented, and Dez soon learns that he
is on the run from Denazen, the “law firm” her father works for. Kale informs
Dez that her father is actually involved in the collection of Sixes, people,
mostly children and teens, with a mutated sixth chromosome that gives them
extraordinary superpowers. Kale has the ability to kill anyone just with the
touch of his hand, but he and Dez are shocked to discover that Dez is
inexplicably immune to his power. Horrified by the truth about her father, Dez
and Kale find themselves both targets of Denazen and on the run. But how long
can Dez evade her father, and what will happen when he and Denazen discover a dangerous
secret she has been keeping all of her life?

Review: Debut
author Jus Accardo’s personality shines through in Touch, the first novel in a new series for teens. While the
storyline isn’t really anything new, the author’s writing style gives it a bit
of freshness, particularly in her portrayal of Dez, a foul-mouthed, rebellious
seventeen-year-old with a dangerous secret. Almost from the first pages of the
book, it’s clear that Dez isn’t a typical teen heroine. She’s rash, abrasive,
and more than a little obnoxious. As the story progresses, however, the reader
experiences Dez maturing as she learns more about the truth of her father and
his role in the sinister Denazen Corporation. Her relationship with Kale, the
handsome and strong Six who managed to escape from Denazen, is enjoyable and
romantic, although predictable. There are also many twists and turns in the
plot, with characters switching allegiances and secrets being revealed left and
right. Overall, Touch isn’t a
particularly original novel, but it is entertaining and has all the elements that
will appeal to many readers, especially teen girls. The sequel, Toxic, is set to be released September
11, 2012.

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Welcome to my blog! I'm a librarian who loves to read...unusual, right? This blog contains my reviews and thoughts about the books I read, and other information for tweens, teens, parents, teachers, librarians and anyone else who loves books. Enjoy!